Radiating device for hyperthermia

ABSTRACT

A flexible three-paths catheter provided with a balloon carries a sealingly sheathed radiofrequency radiating antenna, together with the shielded power supply cable and with some thermocouples, within a plastic lining surrounded by a flow of liquid; a second path carries the power supply cables of some outer thermocouples, flooded by the reverse liquid flow, while the third path allows a fluid to flow through for inflating the balloon. Introduction of the catheter into a hollow organ makes it possible to perform hyperthermal therapy of tumors by means of radiation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention concerns a radiating device for hyperthermia and, moreparticularly, a radiofrequency radiating device, for hyperthermaltreatment of tumors of the bladder.

Devices for hyperthermal treatment of various human body illnesses arealready known, and they use heating liquids, light radiations,radiofrequency antennas, thermistors, and so on.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,776,334 describes a catheter for treating tumors byinserting within the tumor to be treated a radiofrequency deviceprovided with temperature sensors.

French patent application 2600205 concerns an apparatus for lightirradiation of a cavity with the help of an inflatable balloon and oflight sensors.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,154,246 there is described a radiofrequencyresonating circuit which is introduced in natural cavities of the bodyor directly inserted into the tumoral mass.

German patent application No. 2,848,636 claims usage of a heated liquidwhich is circulated in a closed loop by means of a pump within a bodycavity, wherein the liquid temperature is controlled by an externalthermostat. EP-A-0 370 890 discloses a radiating urethral device forhyperthermia including a catheter provided with an inflatable balloonand adapted to receive one or more liquid flows passing therethrough, aradiofrequency radiating antenna, and one or more thermocouples, theradiating antenna being submerged within one said liquid flow comingback from the closed terminal end of the antenna. The radiating devicecomprises in addition a separate rectal control means.

GB-A-2 045 620 relates to an applicator for hyperthermia comprising arectal radiating probe and a spaced apart transurethral catheterincluding a temperature sensing means and an inflatable balloon. U.S.Pat. No. 4,957,765 discloses a transurethral radiating applicator forhyperthermia including a multi-tubes balloon type catheter comprisingclosed end tubes respectively surrounding a helical coil antenna and atemperature sensor, as well as a passive drainage tube for urine.

It is an object of this invention to provide a device for hyperthermaltreatment of tumors within natural cavities of the human body, whichgathers the advantages of the known devices while being free from theirdrawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The device according to this invention substantially comprises aflexible triple path catheter carrying a radiofrequency radiatingantenna, sealingly sheathed together with the shielded cable providingpower supply and with several thermocouples within a plastic casing andsurrounded by a flow of liquid; a second path carries the power supplycables for several outer thermocouples, which are flooded by return flowof said liquid, and a third path allowing a fluid to flow through inorder to inflate a balloon located near the catheter distal end, oncethe latter has been introduced into the cavity to be treated.

This invention will be described more particularly in the followingbased on a specific embodiment thereof reported herein for exemplary andnon limiting purposes, as well as on the attached schematic drawings. Inconnection with the above it should be pointed out that in said drawingsthe parts shown are not to scale and the mutual dimensions are out ofproportion, the members having in fact a very thin cross-section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows schematically, in an enlarged scale, the distal end of thedevice according to this invention, which has to be introduced into anatural cavity of the human body;

FIG. 1A shows an enlarged schematic cross-section of the deviceaccording to this invention, taken along line A—A of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a schematic of some structural details of a radiofrequencyantenna shown in general within the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2A shows a schematic enlarged cross-section of the radiatingantenna, taken along line A—A of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 is a schematic of the proximal end of the device according tothis invention, opposite to the distal end shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plot of the intensity of the radiation generated by theradiating antenna of FIG. 2, along the longitudinal axis thereof;

FIG. 5 shows schematically the distal end of the device of FIG. 1, as itis seen after having been introduced into a urinary bladder; and

FIG. 6 shows schematically the structure at the distal end of the deviceshown in FIG. 1, when ready for introduction into the organ to betreated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The device according to this invention has a shape and consistency of aflexible catheter whose distal end, as it is shown in FIG. 1, enclosestherewithin an antenna 1 surrounded by a flow of liquid 2 which isintroduced into the bladder through an opening 3 and, after being freelycirculated within said bladder, is again sucked into the catheterthrough an opening 4. Said opening 4 is in communication with a secondway or catheter side channel 5 housing the leads of severalthermocouples, like for instance 6, 6′, 6″ adapted to be deflectedoutwards by inflating a balloon 7 in which a gaseous fluid or a liquidis made to flow through a third path or side channel 8 and through anend opening 9.

The catheter opposite (proximal) end (FIG. 3) whose tip is shown in FIG.1, has three diverging inlets corresponding to the three paths orchannels 2, 5, 8 of said catheter. Within center inlet 10 there isinserted with a pressure fit a plug 11 provided with a center throughpassage and with a side branch 13; in center passage 12 of plug 11 thereis in turn pressure fitted a second plug 14 which is provided as wellwith a center opening 15. Shielded cable 16 supplying power to antenna 1runs through the center passages 12 and 15 of said two coaxiallyarranged plugs, while side branch 13 is provided as an inlet and anoutlet of a conditioning fluid flowing along channel 2. Thermocouplepower supply cables 6, 6′, 6″ are laid through side entrance 17 providedwith a branch 18, and they run along side path or channel 5 having saidconditioning liquid flowing in a reverse direction therethrough, saidliquid entering and exiting in turn through said branch 18. The otherside entrance 19 is provided with a one-way valve 20 for introducing thefluid that, flowing along second side channel 8, is used to inflateballoon 7.

Slightly downstream from said three entrances 10, 17, 19 there isprovided, in a sleeve-like fashion and in intimate contact around thecatheter body, a heat exchanger 31, operated in a known fashion fromoutside, and used to cool or to heat said conditioning liquid flowingthrough central channel 2 and coming back through side channel 5, orviceversa.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 2A, radiating antenna 1 will be describedmore in detail; the useful radiating portion of linear dipole antenna 1comprises a terminal coil-shaped segment 21 of central conductor 22which, immediately upstream from coil 21 is tightly surrounded, insequence, by a first plastic inner sleeve 23, by a metal braiding 24, bya second intermediate plastic sleeve 25, by a metal cylinder 26electrically connected with shield 24, and eventually by an outerplastic sleeve 27.

Immediately beneath sleeve 27 there is provided the power supply cablesfor several thermocouples located in a way suitable to detect theoperating temperatures in predetermined positions of the antenna and ofthe power supply cable thereof. For instance, a first thermocouple 28may be located in the position of the stretch of catheter which will belocated at the prostatic urethra when the catheter with its antenna areinserted within the bladder; a second thermocouple 29 slightly upstreamfrom antenna 1, at the bladder neck, while a third thermocouple 30 islocated close to central conductor 22, between metal cylinder 26 and endcoil 21, after having been wrapped with one or more coils around shield24 immediately upstream from intermediate sleeve 25 and metal cylinder26, and a second time, with a larger number of coils, around the stretchof central lead 22 projecting out of metal cylinder 26 before winding upto form end coil 21, the stretch of thermocouple 30 power supply cableconnecting said two points being inserted with intimate contact betweenintermediate sleeve 25 and metal cylinder 26.

In any case, the end stretches of the power supply cables, immediatelyahead of the thermocouples, are wrapped in a number of helical coils inorder to increase the thermal capacity and the radiofrequency resistanceof the ends which are designated to detect the temperature, whilereducing to a minimum, or completely avoiding the dispersive thermalconduction along said cables.

In FIG. 1A, which shows schematically a cross-section of the catheteraccording to this invention, taken in any position of the stretch goingfrom heat exchanger 31 to intermediate sleeve 25, there is shown sidechannel 5 carrying the power supply cables of thermocouples 6, 6′, 6″and side channel 8 for the flow of the fluid used to inflate balloon 7,both said channels 5 and 8 being managed within the thickness of theactual catheter whose inner bore 2 intended for the flow of theconditioning liquid carries, in a central position, shielded cable 16comprised of central conductor 22, inner sleeve 23, shield 24 and outersleeve 27, as well as inner thermocouples 28, 29 and 30 power supplycables (not shown).

FIG. 2A is a schematic cross-section of antenna 1, taken along line A—Aof FIG. 2. The following are shown therein, starting from the center:conductor 22, inner sleeve 23, metal shield 24, an intermediate sleeve25, a metal cylinder 26, and outer sleeve 27, as well as thermocouple 30power supply conductor.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the radiation intensity starting from thecoil-shaped end 21 of antenna 1 towards shielded power supply cable 22,16. As it is shown, intensity is a maximum when passing from radiatingcoil 21 to the stretch protected by metal cylinder 26, and it tends tonil at the position of shielded cable 16.

There is shown schematically in FIG. 5 the longitudinal section of thecatheter provided with a radiating antenna according to this invention,once it has been introduced into the bladder, in an operative condition.The catheter, carrying the radiating antenna therewithin, is introducedinto bladder 32 through the urethra, in such a way that the rear end ofprotective metal cylinder 26 is located approximately at the bladderneck, in the transition area between prostrate 33 and bladder 32, whilesimultaneously taking care that the catheter front end does not subjectthe bladder internal wall to any pressure. Once the catheter has beenintroduced into the bladder in such a way, one actuates the supply pumpof conditioning liquid 2 preferably comprising a solution of a selectivecitotoxicity cytotoxicity substance, which is accordingly forced tocirculate through the bladder coming out from opening 3 and going backthrough opening 4, or viceversa, along side channel 5 which carries thepower supply cables of thermocouples 6, 6′, 6″ therewithin. The liquidforced circulation, provided by the variable flowrate supply pump,suitably combined with an outer balancing and degassing chamber, allowsthe volume of liquid within the bladder to be balanced at will, in sucha way as to compensate the pathological or physiological urineproduction, while thoroughly ejecting the gases generated or unwillinglyintroduced in circulation, out of the bladder, in order to preventirradiation non-uniformities which would otherwise be caused bycoexistance of anisotropic media. Once bladder 32 has been completelyfilled with conditioning liquid 2, ballon 7 is inflated by introducing afluid, which may be a gas but it is preferably a liquid, along sidechannel 8 and through the end opening 9 thereof; ballon 7 inflated asmentioned above, pushes then against outer thermocouples 6, 6′, 6″ powersupply cables thereby moving said thermocouples into tangentialengagement against bladder wall 32 in different positions, in order todetect the temperatures prevailing therein as caused by irradiationgenerated by antenna 1. The possibility of changing the location and thenumber of the outer thermocouples, enables the thermocouples to bepositioned at will, on the bladder wall, or in any case place of thebody organ to be treated, while being able to individually check thetemperatures in the various locations. The inflated ballon 7 protectsthe bladder neck wall from an excess heat caused by the proximity of theradiating antenna, and in the meantime it prevents the catheter frombeing accidentally displaced or from coming out through the bladderneck.

The dimensions of antenna 1 are such that it may be freely positionedalong the catheter while being obviously wholly contained within thehuman bladder to be treated, but in the meantime they must be suitableto generate a therapeutically active radiation, in order to reach thetemperatures considered lethal for the cancer cells. Since the physicallength of an antenna is related to the virtual electrical length thereofthrough an equation involving the impedence of said antenna, as well asthe impedence deriving from the environment irradiated by the antenna,the antenna electrical length comes out to be inversely proportional tothe irradiated medium conductivity. Accordingly, since the conductivityof an aqueous solution is for instance many times higher than theconductivity of air, when operating in an aqueous environment it ispossible to use an antenna which is physically quite shorter than thelength needed if it were necessary to operate in air.

The dipole according to this invention corresponds to a dipole of thequarter wave type and in the aqueous environment comprising the solutionfilled bladder, it makes it possible to operate at frequencies in therange of 900-1000 MHz; in particular, a frequency of 915 MHz has beenchosen since very different frequencies would result in penetration,intensity, and other effects not always exactly predictable andcontrollable in the body tissues, since in general high frequencies havea low penetration power and therefore they do not provide the desiredlocal heating, while lower frequencies, having a higher penetrationpower, may get deeper tissues involved and damaged.

On the other hand, radiations having different wavelengths might createa disturbance for radio and telephone communications, protected byconstraints imposed by the legislations of the various countries.

In order to reduce to a minimum and possibly to nil the influence of theradiofrequency field on the thermocouples, as well as the variousthermoelectric effects connatural with said thermocouples, the supplycable end stretches close to the thermocouples are wound into an helicalshape whereby the temperature measured in the various sensing points isa reliable data, unaffected by said influences. The above structureconstruction prevents measuring errors due to conduction, it provides areliable temperature indication, for instance exactly in the area of thedipole power supply position in the case of thermocouple 30, and itreduces in an extremely effective manner the thermocouple self-heatingprocess due to radiofrequencies, also when there is an extremely highconcentration of energy, whereby said structures are almost unaffectedby the disturbances in the radio-frequency field.

Since the sizes, and in particular the cross-sections of the pluraldevice components according to this invention must be extremely small,to suit the particular field of use desired for the device, the energylosses due for instance to self-heating of the antenna power supplycable are particularly high, for instance in the range of 20-40%. Sincethis undesirable self-heating, due to the Joule effect, might causeexcessive heating of the urethral walls, and accordingly a discomfortfor the patient subjected to treatment, or even damages to the tissues,the antenna cable, and the antenna itself are continuously cooled, whilein operation, by using the conditioning liquid flow directed to thebladder and then withdrawn again therefrom, whereby a simultaneouscontrol action is obtained, for controlling the temperature prevailingboth in the liquid within the bladder and along the urethra. Temperaturecontrol is effected by variations of the conditioning liquid supply flowand of the cooling source temperature. In such a way it is possible bothto increase the temperature and to withdraw heat.

In order to enable outer thermocouples 6, 6′, 6″ for detecting thebladder wall temperature to be safely deflected outwards when balloon 7is inflated, the power supply cables thereof are reinforced along theirwhole length by inserting within the protecting sheath thereof a thinstainless steel wire providing them with the required rigidity andflexibility. The presence of said reinforcing wire provides as well thethermocouple power supply cables with the mechanical strength necessaryto bear the compressive and tensile stresses caused when the cables areinserted within side channel 5, and when thermocouples 6, 6′, 6″ arelaid in the desired locations.

When the catheter, provided with all its components, is introduced intothe urethral channel, all the way to the bladder, the ends of outerthermocouples 6, 6′, 6″ projecting upstream of balloon 7 through opening4 are temporarily locked by inserting them, downstream of balloon 7, inone or more notches provided, as the case may be, in suitable positionsaccording to the different body organ or the particular patient to betreated, close to the catheter end, as it is shown in FIG. 6. Whenballoon 7 is inflated it causes the thermocouple ends to come out fromthe notches and then to deflect outwards until the thermocouple tipscome into engagement with the bladder wall. The particular outwardsdeflecting system of thermocouples 6, 6′, 6″ causes the ends of therespective power supply cables comprising the actual thermocouple, totangentially engage the bladder wall, whereby no excessive concentratedpressures are generated. On the other hand, the tangential positiontaken by the thermocouple tips when contacting the bladder wall, makesit possible to measure the actual temperature of the wall positionconsidered in that at the boundary between said wall and the liquidfilling the bladder there is a thin liquid layer substantiallystationary, which is not affected by the liquid circulation within thebladder, since it clings to the tissue because of a physical attraction,while the coil shape of the cable terminal stretches increases thethermal capacity of the thermocouple whose diameter, inclusive of thecoils, is less than 0,7 mm whereby the thermocouple is completelysubmerged within the liquid stationary layer having a thickness ofapproximately 1 mm.

After the thermocouples have been deflected outwards within the bladder,it is still possible to modify their location by performing pushingand/or pulling actions on the reinforced power supply cables, asmentioned above, and possibly by rotating the catheter containing them.Control of the temperature detected on the bladder walls and/or withinthe circulating liquid mass, is obtained by changing the flowrate ofsaid liquid from few cubic centimeters per minute to several tens ofcubic centimeters per minute. The circulated fluid circulating systemprevents permanence or formation and build-up of possible gas bubbleswithin the bladder or through the circuit, in that air or other gasbubbles having possibly formed or being already present, are entrainedout by the continuous flow and exhausted to the outer environment in anappropriate position of the outer pumping circuit. In addition, theliquid circulation provided as above prevents the antenna and theenvironment thereof from overheating, therefore from causing undesirablereactions within the circulating liquid.

It is pointed out herein that all the antenna and thermocouplecomponents contacted by the liquid circulating within the bladder aresealingly lined and insulated from the outer environment by apolytetrafluoroethylene layer whereby, after each usage and applicationthey may be sterilized for subsequent further use.

We claim:
 1. A radiating device for urethral hyperthermia including acatheter provided at its distal end with an inflatable balloon (7) andadapted to receive multiple injected liquid flows (2,5,8) passingtherethrough, a radiofrequency radiating antenna (1) and multiplethermocouples (6,6′, 6″), the radiating antenna being adapted to besubmerged within said liquid flow, characterized in that said radiatingantenna (1) is adapted to be submerged within a liquid flow whichproceeds through a central channel (2) surrounding said radiatingantenna (1) towards the distal end of said catheter and passes from saidcatheter through a first opening (3) into the bladder to be treated,while flowing back into said catheter towards the a proximal end thereofthrough a second separate opening (4) of a side channel (5) surroundingthe power supply cables of said thermocouples (6,6′, 6″), the ends ofsaid thermocouples (6,6′, 6″) are adapted to project out of said secondopening (4), being thus deflected outwards into the bladder when saidballoon (7) is inflated by injecting a fluid therein through a secondside channel (8) and third opening (9), whereby the outwardly deflectedends of said thermocouples (6,6′, 6″) are adapted to come intotangential engagement with the bladder wall (32) irradiated by saidantenna (1).
 2. A radiating device including a catheter provided at itsdistal end with an inflatable balloon and adapted to receive multipleinjected liquid fluid flows passing therethrough, a radiofrequencyradiating antenna and multiple thermocouples, the radiating antennabeing submerged within a fluid flow, characterized in that saidradiating antenna is adapted to be submerged within a flow whichproceeds through a central channel surrounding said radiating antennatowards a distal end of said catheter and passes from said catheterthrough a first opening into an organ to be treated, while flowing backinto said catheter towards a proximal end thereof through a secondseparate opening of a side channel surrounding power supply cables ofsaid thermocouples, ends of said thermocouples are adapted to projectout of said second opening, being thus deflected outwards into the organwhen said balloon is inflated by injecting a fluid through a second sidechannel and third opening, whereby the outwardly deflected ends of saidthermocouples are adapted to come into tangential engagement with a wallof the organ irradiated by said antenna.
 3. A radiating device includinga catheter provided at its distal end with an inflatable balloon andadapted to receive multiple injected liquid fluid flows passingtherethrough, a radiofrequency radiating antenna and multiplethermocouples, the radiating antenna being submerged within a fluidflow, characterized in that said radiating antenna is adapted to besubmerged within a flow which proceeds through a central channelsurrounding said radiating antenna towards a distal end of said catheterand passes from said catheter through a first opening into an organ tobe treated, while flowing back into said catheter towards a proximal endthereof through a second separate opening of a side channel surroundingpower supply cables of said thermocouples, ends of said thermocouplesare adapted to project out of said second opening, being thus deflectedoutwards into the organ when said balloon is inflated by injecting afluid through a second side channel and third opening, whereby outwardlydeflected ends of said thermocouples are adapted to come into engagementwith a wall of the organ irradiated by said antenna.
 4. A radiatingdevice for irradiating an organ comprising: a catheter provided with aninflatable balloon and including a central channel, first and secondside channels, and first, second, and third openings; an antenna,situated at a first end portion of the catheter, the antenna adapted forbeing submerged in a first fluid that flows through the central channelsurrounding the antenna towards the first end portion of the catheter,passes from the catheter through the first opening, and flows back intothe catheter towards a second end portion thereof through the secondopening; and a plurality of thermocouples, having ends, the plurality ofthermocouples extending along the first side channel of the catheter,each of the ends of the plurality of thermocouples adapted to projectout of the second opening and to be deflected outwards when the balloonis inflated by injecting a second fluid through the second side channeland the third opening, wherein the deflected ends of the plurality ofthermocouples adapted to contact a wall of the organ irradiated by theantenna.
 5. A radiating device for irradiating an organ comprising: acatheter provided with an inflatable balloon and including first andsecond channels and a first opening; an antenna, situated at an endportion of the catheter, the antenna adapted for being submerged in afluid that flows through the first channel surrounding the antenna andinto the organ; and a plurality of thermocouples, having ends, theplurality of thermocouples extending along the second channel each ofthe ends of the plurality of thermocouples projecting out of the firstopening and being deflected outwards when the balloon is inflated,wherein the deflected ends of the plurality of thermocouples are adaptedto contact a wall of the hollow organ irradiated by the antenna.
 6. Aradiating device for irradiating an organ comprising: a catheterprovided with an inflatable balloon; an antenna, situated at an endportion of the catheter, adapted for irradiating the organ; a channelfor providing a fluid to the organ; and a plurality of thermocouples,having ends, the plurality of thermocouples extending along thecatheter, each of the ends of the plurality of thermocouples beingdeflected outwards when the balloon is inflated, wherein the deflectedends of the plurality of thermocouples are adapted to contact a wall ofthe organ irradiated by the antenna.
 7. A radiating device forirradiating an organ comprising: a catheter provided with an inflatableballoon and including first and second channels and a first opening; anantenna situated at an end portion of the catheter, the antenna adaptedfor being submerged in a fluid that flows through the first channelsurrounding the antenna and into the organ; and a plurality oftemperature sensing devices, having ends, the plurality of temperaturesensing devices extending along the catheter each of the ends of theplurality of temperature sensing devices being deflected outwards whenthe balloon is inflated, wherein the deflected ends of the plurality oftemperature sensing devices are adapted to contact a wall of the organirradiated by the antenna.
 8. A radiating device for irradiating anorgan comprising: a catheter provided with an inflatable balloon; anantenna, situated at an end portion of the catheter, for irradiating theorgan; a channel for providing a fluid to the organ; and a plurality oftemperature sensing devices, having ends, the plurality of temperaturesensing devices extending along the catheter, each of the ends of theplurality of temperature sensing devices being deflected outwards whenthe balloon is inflated, wherein the deflected ends of the plurality oftemperature sensing devices are adapted to contact a wall of the organirradiated by the antenna.
 9. A radiating device for irradiating anorgan comprising: a catheter; an antenna, situated at an end portion ofthe catheter, adapted for irradiating the organ; a channel, within thecatheter, adapted for providing a fluid comprising a cytotoxic substanceto the organ; and a plurality of temperature sensing devices, havingends, the plurality of temperature sensing devices extending along thecatheter, each of the ends of the plurality of temperature sensingdevices adapted for being deflected outwards after the catheter isinserted into the organ, wherein the deflected ends of the plurality oftemperature sensing devices are adapted to contact a wall of the organirradiated by the antenna.
 10. A radiating device for irradiating anorgan comprising: a catheter, including a channel adapted for providinga fluid to the organ; an antenna, situated at an end portion of thecatheter, adapted for irradiating the organ; and a plurality oftemperature sensing devices, having ends, the plurality of temperaturesensing devices extending along the catheter, each of the ends of theplurality of temperature sensing devices being deflected outwards afterthe catheter is inserted into the organ, wherein the deflected ends ofthe plurality of temperature sensing devices are adapted to contact awall of the organ irradiated by the antenna.
 11. A radiating device forirradiating a cavity comprising: a catheter; an antenna, situated at anend portion of the catheter, for irradiating the cavity; channelextending along the catheter and adapted for providing fluid to thecavity; and a plurality of temperature sensing devices, having ends, theplurality of temperature sensing devices extending along the catheter,each of the ends of the plurality of temperature sensing devices beingdeflected outwards after the catheter is inserted into the cavity,wherein the deflected ends of the plurality of temperature sensingdevices are adapted to contact a wall of the cavity irradiated by theantenna.
 12. The radiating device as recited in claim 11, wherein thechannel is within the catheter.
 13. The radiating device as recited inclaim 12, wherein the antenna is within the channel.
 14. The radiatingdevice as recited in claim 13, adapted for fluid flow by the antenna andinto the cavity.
 15. The radiating device as recited in claim 11,further comprising a shielded cable coupled to the antenna.
 16. Theradiating device as recited in claim 15, adapted for fluid flow by theshielded cable and the antenna and into the cavity.
 17. The radiatingdevice as recited in claim 11, further comprising means for providing asecond fluid around the antenna.
 18. The radiating device as recited inclaim 11, adapted for flow of a conditioning liquid.
 19. The radiatingdevice as recited in claim 11, adapted for flow of a solution of aselective cytotoxicity substance.
 20. The radiating device as recited inclaim 11, wherein the antenna is adapted for a frequency range of900-1000 MHZ.
 21. The radiating device according to claim 11, whereinthe antenna comprises a linear dipole antenna.
 22. The radiating deviceaccording to claim 21, wherein the linear dipole antenna comprises acoil-shaped segment and a linear conductor.
 23. The radiating deviceaccording to claim 22, further comprising: a first plastic sleevesurrounding a portion of the linear conductor; a metal braidingsurrounding the first plastic sleeve; a second plastic sleevesurrounding the metal braiding; a metal cylinder surrounding the secondplastic sleeve and electrically coupled to the metal briading; and athird plastic sleeve surrounding the metal cylinder.
 24. The radiatingdevice as recited in claim 11, further comprising a stainless steel wirecoupled to each of the plurality of temperature sensing devices.
 25. Theradiating device as recited in claim 11, further comprising means forretaining the plurality of temperature sensing devices prior todeflection.
 26. The radiating device according to claim 25, wherein theretaining means comprises at least one notch.
 27. The radiating deviceaccording to claim 11, further comprising a sealing member for sealingthe antenna.
 28. The radiating device according to claim 27, furthercomprising a sealing member for each of the plurality of temperaturesensing devices.
 29. The radiating device according to claim 27, whereinthe sealing member comprises a polytetrafluoroethylene layer.
 30. Theradiating device according to claim 11, further comprising a secondplurality of temperature sensing devices for detecting temperatures atpredetermined positions along the antenna.
 31. The radiating deviceaccording to claim 30, wherein each of the second plurality oftemperature sensing devices is coupled to a power supply cable.
 32. Theradiating device according to claim 31, wherein each of the power supplycables is wound into a helical coil.
 33. The radiating device accordingto claim 11, wherein the deflected ends of the plurality of temperaturesensing devices tangentially contact the wall of the cavity.
 34. Theradiating device according to claim 11, wherein the catheter furthercomprises an inflatable balloon.
 35. The radiating device according toclaim 34, wherein the balloon is adapted to be inflated by a secondfluid.
 36. The radiating device according to claim 35, wherein thesecond fluid is a liquid.
 37. The radiating device according to claim35, wherein the second fluid is a gas.
 38. The radiating deviceaccording to claim 34, wherein the catheter comprises a second channelin communication with the balloon for providing a second fluid toinflate the balloon.
 39. The radiating device according to claim 34,wherein each of the ends of the plurality of temperature sensing devicesis deflected outwards when the balloon is inflated.
 40. The radiatingdevice according to claim 11, wherein the catheter comprises a firstopening adapted to provide the fluid into the cavity and a secondopening adapted to allow for circulation out of the cavity.
 41. Theradiating device according to claim 34, wherein the catheter comprises afirst opening adapted to provide the fluid into the cavity and a secondopening adapted to allow for circulation out of the cavity.
 42. Theradiating device according to claim 41, wherein the catheter comprises athird opening adapted to provide a second fluid to inflate the balloon.43. The radiating device according to claim 11, adapted to contact acavity that is an organ.
 44. The radiating device according to claim 11,adapted to contact a cavity that is a hollow organ.
 45. The radiatingdevice according to claim 11, adapted to contact a cavity that is abladder.
 46. The radiating device according to claim 11, furthercomprising means for protecting the cavity wall from excess heat fromthe antenna.
 47. The radiating device according to claim 11, furthercomprising means for preventing the catheter from being displaced fromthe cavity.
 48. A method of performing hyperthermal therapy comprisingthe steps of: inserting a catheter, including an inflatable balloon, anantenna and a plurality of thermocouples, into an organ; providing asupply of a first fluid such that the first fluid flows through a firstchannel of the catheter and circulates out a first opening in thecatheter through the organ and into a second opening in the catheter andthrough a second channel of the catheter; and inflating the balloon bypassing a second fluid through a third channel of the catheter and out athird hole in the catheter and into the balloon, such that the pluralityof thermocouples are deflected by the inflated balloon and contact awall of the organ.
 49. A method of performing hyperthermal therapycomprising the steps of: inserting a catheter, including an inflatableballoon, an antenna, and a plurality of temperature sensing devices,into an organ; providing a supply of a first fluid such that the firstfluid flows through a first channel of the catheter and circulates out afirst opening in the catheter through the organ and into a secondopening in the catheter and through a second channel of the catheter;and inflating the balloon by passing a second fluid through a thirdchannel of the catheter and out a third hole in the catheter and intothe balloon, such that the plurality of temperature sensing devices,carried in the second channel, are deflected by the inflated balloon andcontact a wall of the organ.
 50. A method of performing hyperthermaltherapy comprising the steps of: inserting a catheter including aninflatable balloon, an antenna, and a plurality thermocouples, into anorgan; irradiating the organ by generating radiation using the antenna;providing a supply of a fluid through the catheter and into the organ;and inflating the balloon such that the plurality of thermocouples aredeflected by the inflated balloon and contact a wall of the organ.
 51. Amethod of performing hyperthermal therapy comprising the steps of:inserting a catheter including an inflatable balloon, an antenna and aplurality of temperature sensing devices into an organ; irradiating theorgan by generating radiation using the antenna; providing a supply of afluid through the catheter and into the organ; and inflating the balloonsuch that the plurality of temperature sensing devices are deflected bythe inflated balloon and contact a wall of the organ.
 52. A method ofperforming hyperthermal therapy comprising the steps of: inserting acatheter, including an antenna and a plurality of temperature sensingdevices, into an organ; irradiating the organ by generating radiationusing the antenna; providing a supply of a fluid comprising a cytotoxicsubstance through the catheter and into the organ; and deflecting theplurality of temperature sensing devices to contact a wall of the organ.53. A method of performing hyperthermal therapy comprising the steps of:inserting a catheter, including an antenna and a plurality oftemperature sensing devices, into an organ; irradiating the organ bygenerating radiation using the antenna; providing a supply of a fluidthrough the catheter and into the organ; and deflecting the plurality oftemperature sensing devices to contact a wall of the organ.
 54. A methodof performing hyperthermal therapy comprising the steps of: inserting acatheter, including an antenna and a plurality of temperature sensingdevices, into a cavity; irradiating the tin radiation using the antenna;providing a supply of a fluid into the cavity; and deflecting theplurality of temperature sensing devices to contact a wall of thecavity.
 55. The method of performing hyperthermal therapy according toclaim 54, wherein the providing step comprises the step of providing thefluid through the catheter and into the cavity.
 56. The method ofperforming hyperthermal therapy according to claim 55, wherein the stepof providing comprises the step of flowing the fluid past the antenna.57. The method of performing hyperthermal therapy according to claim 54,wherein the fluid comprises a conditioning liquid.
 58. The method ofperforming hyperthermal therapy according to claim 54, wherein the fluidcomprises a solution of a selective cytotoxicity substance.
 59. Themethod of performing hyperthermal therapy according to claim 54, whereinthe catheter includes a balloon.
 60. The method of performinghyperthermal therapy according to claim 59, further comprising the stepof: inflating the balloon such that the plurality of temperature sensingdevices are deflected by the inflated balloon and contact the wall ofthe cavity.
 61. The method of performing hyperthermal therapy accordingto claim 60, wherein the inflating step comprises the step of inflatingthe balloon with a liquid.
 62. The method of performing hyperthermaltherapy according to claim 60, wherein the inflating step comprises thestep of inflating the balloon with a gas.
 63. The method of performinghyperthermal therapy according to claim 54, further comprising the stepof controlling a volume of the fluid in the cavity.
 64. The method ofperforming hyperthermal therapy according to claim 54, furthercomprising the step of evacuating gas introduced by the providing stepto prevent irradiation non-uniformities.
 65. The method of performinghyperthermal therapy according to claim 54, further comprising the stepof controlling a temperature of the fluid.
 66. The method of performinghyperthermal therapy according to claim 54, further comprising the stepof controlling a flowrate of the fluid.
 67. The method of performinghyperthermal therapy according to claim 54, further comprising the stepof sensing temperatures at different locations by modifying a locationof the temperature sensing devices.
 68. The method of performinghyperthermal therapy according to claim 54, further comprising the stepof generating therapeutically active radiation using the antenna toachieve a temperature within the cavity lethal for cancer cells.
 69. Themethod of performing hyperthermal therapy according to claim 54, furthercomprising sensing a temperature at various positions along the antennawith a second plurality of temperature sensing devices.
 70. The methodof performing hyperthermal therapy according to claim 54, furthercomprising sensing a temperature at various positions along the antennaand a shielded cable coupled to the antenna with a second plurality oftemperature sensing devices.
 71. The method of performing hyperthermaltherapy according to claim 54, wherein the plurality of temperaturesensing devices come into tangential contact with the wall of thecavity.
 72. The method of performing hyperthermal therapy according toclaim 54, wherein a second plurality of temperature sensing devices comeinto tangential contact with the wall of the cavity.
 73. The method ofperforming hyperthermal therapy according to claim 54, furthercomprising the step of controlling a temperature of the wall of thecavity.
 74. The method of performing hyperthermal therapy according toclaim 54, further comprising the step of controlling a temperature ofthe antenna.
 75. The method of performing hyperthermal therapy accordingto claim 54, wherein the inserting step comprises inserting the catheterinto an organ.
 76. The method of performing hyperthermal therapyaccording to claim 54, wherein the inserting step comprises insertingthe catheter into a hollow organ.
 77. The method of performinghyperthermal therapy according to claim 54, wherein the inserting stepcomprises inserting the catheter into a bladder.
 78. The method ofperforming hyperthermal therapy according to claim 54, furthercomprising the step of protecting the cavity wall from excess heat fromthe antenna.
 79. The method of hyperthermal therapy according to claim54, further comprising the step of preventing the catheter from beingdisplaced from the cavity.
 80. A radiating device for irradiating acavity comprising: a catheter; an antenna, situated at an end portion ofthe catheter, for irradiating the cavity; a first channel adapted toProvide a fluid to the cavity; a second channel adapted to receive thefluid from the cavity; and at least one temperature sensing device,having an end, the end of the at least one temperature sensing deviceextending outward from the catheter after the catheter is inserted intothe cavity, wherein the end of the at least one temperature sensingdevice is adapted to detect a temperature of a wall of the cavityirradiated by the antenna.
 81. A radiating device for irradiating acavity comprising: a catheter; an antenna, situated at an end portion ofthe catheter, for irradiating the cavity; a first channel adapted toprovide a fluid to the cavity; a second channel adapted to receive thefluid from the cavity; and at least one temperature sensing device,having an end, the end of the at least one temperature sensing deviceextending outward from the catheter after the catheter is inserted intothe cavity, wherein the end of the at least one temperature sensingdevice is adapted to detect a temperature of the cavity irradiated bythe antenna.
 82. The radiating device as claimed in claim 81, whereinthe at least one temperature sensing device is released from thecatheter after the catheter is inserted into the cavity.
 83. A radiatingdevice for irradiating an organ comprising: a catheter; an antenna,situated at an end portion of the catheter, for irradiating the organ; achannel, within the catheter, adapted to provide a fluid comprising atreatment substance to the organ; and at least one temperature sensingdevice, having an end, the end of the at least one temperature sensingdevice extending outwards from the catheter after the catheter isinserted into the organ, wherein the end of the at least one temperaturesensing device is adapted to contact a wall of the organ irradiated bythe antenna and wherein the fluid is adapted to be provided to the organsimultaneously with the irradiation of the organ.
 84. The radiatingdevice according to claim 83, wherein the treatment substance comprisesa cytotoxic substance.
 85. A radiating device for irradiating an organcomprising: a catheter; an antenna, situated at an end portion of thecatheter, for irradiating the organ; a first channel, within thecatheter, adapted to provide a fluid comprising a cytotoxic substance tothe organ; a second channel, within the catheter, adapted to receive thefluid from the cavity; and at least one temperature sensing device,having an end, the end of the at least one temperature sensing deviceextending outward from the catheter after the catheter is inserted intothe organ; wherein the end of the at least one temperature sensingdevice is adapted to contact a wall of the organ irradiated be theantenna and wherein the fluid is adapted to be provided to the organsimultaneously with the irradiation of the organ.
 86. A radiating devicefor irradiating an organ comprising: a catheter; an antenna, situated atan end portion of the catheter, for irradiating the organ; a firstchannel, within the catheter, adapted to provide a fluid comprising acytotoxic substance to the organ; a second channel, within the catheter,adapted to receive the fluid from the cavity; and at least onetemperature sensing device, having an end, the end of the at least onetemperature sensing device extending outward after the catheter isinserted into the organ, wherein the end of the at least one temperaturesensing device is adapted to detect a temperature of the fluid andwherein the fluid is adapted to be provided to the organ simultaneouslywith the irradiation of the organ.
 87. A method of performinghyperthermal therapy comprising the steps of: inserting a catheter,including an antenna and at least one temperature sensing device, intoan organ; irradiating the organ by generating radiation using theantenna; providing a supply of a fluid through the catheter and into theorgan; extracting the fluid from the organ through the catheter; andextending the at least one temperature sensing device adapted to detecta temperature of a wall of the organ.
 88. A method of performinghyperthermal therapy comprising the steps of: inserting a catheter,including an antenna and at least one temperature sensing device, into acavity; irradiating the cavity by generating radiation using theantenna; providing a supply of a fluid through the catheter and into thecavity; extracting the fluid from the cavity through the catheter; andextending the at least one temperature sensing device within the cavity;and detecting a temperature of the cavity.
 89. The method as recited inclaim 88, wherein the detecting step comprises detecting a temperatureof the fluid.
 90. A method of performing hyperthermal therapy comprisingthe steps of: inserting a catheter, including an antenna and at leastone temperature sensing device, into an organ; irradiating the organ bygenerating radiation using the antenna; simultaneously with irradiating,providing a supply of a fluid comprising a cytotoxic substance throughthe catheter and into the organ; and extending the at least onetemperature sensing device adapted to contact a wall of the organ.
 91. Amethod of performing hyperthermal therapy comprising the steps of:inserting a catheter, including an antenna and at least one temperaturesensing device, into an organ; irradiating the organ by generatingradiation using the antenna; simultaneously with irradiating, providinga supply of a fluid comprising a cytotoxic substance through thecatheter and into the organ.